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Seldom have we seen such fantastic distribution with such mismatched ingredients. But then again, seldom do we eat at places with “cock” in the title.

It's real!

The Famous Cock Tavern is a short walk from London’s Arsenal Stadium. The draft list is decent and the food is cheap. And, more importantly, they’ve decked the place out with flat screen TVs for the World Cup. The name refers to poultry, just like Ye Olde Cock on Fleet Street or The Cock Tavern in Smithfield. (If you’re still giggling, we’d suggest riding the Piccadilly line in London, which ends at Cockfosters.)

Appearance (5): These nachos looked like a bit of a mess. It was unclear where the salsa ended and the chilli began. Gobs of sour cream were melting in the corners. We couldn’t see much cheese. The jalapenos looked like they were genetically-enhanced. Thankfully, though, looks can be deceiving.

Quality of Ingredients (6): The chips were like Doritos, but much thicker. They were heavily seasoned, with a bit of a spicy kick. (Sort of reminded us of Long Acre!). There was too much salsa and it was too sweet to go with the spicy chips. The chilli con carne was mild. The sour cream was warm and gloppy.

Distribution of Toppings (9): These nachos were exceptionally constructed. Melted jack cheese was layered through the whole plate, including a bottom layer! While the toppings were an odd mix, they were spread out evenly. There was more than enough to cover all the chips.

Perhaps the management has been talking to John Harvards?

Value (9): At £7.49 (or $11), these were an

excellent value for London. The plate was enough for dinner for two or a hefty-sized snack for four.

Overall (29): These nachos slowly won us over. They looked weird, and we were reluctant to dig through the warm sour cream and salsa layer. By the end, though, we couldn’t get enough of the spicy chips, melted cheese and chilli. Still, we’d guess that the Famous Cock Tavern is famous for other things.